Boeing 747

TheBoeing 747is a long-rangewide-body airlinerdesigned and manufactured byBoeing Commercial Airplanesin the United States between 1968 and 2023. After the introduction of the707in October 1958,Pan Amwanted a jet2+1⁄2times its size, to reduce itsseat costby 30%. In 1965,Joe Sutterleft the737development program to design the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft, and in late 1966,Pratt & Whitneyagreed to develop theJT9Dengine, ahigh-bypass turbofan.On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out of the custom-builtEverett Plant,the world'slargest building by volume.The 747's first flight took place on February 9, 1969, and the 747 was certified in December of that year. It entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970. The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet"as the firstwide-body airliner.

Boeing 747
ABoeing 747-200operated byIberia,1980
General information
Type	Wide-bodyjet airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Status	In cargo service; in limited passenger service
Primary users	Pan Am(historical) UPS Airlines Cargolux Lufthansa
Number built	1,574 (incN7470prototype)
History
Manufactured	1968–2023
Introduction date	January 22, 1970(1970-01-22),withPan Am
First flight	February 9, 1969(1969-02-09)
Variants	Boeing 747-400 Boeing 747-8
Developed into	Boeing 747SP Boeing Dreamlifter Boeing E-4 Boeing VC-25 Boeing YAL-1 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft SOFIA 747 Supertanker

The 747 is afour-engined jet aircraft,initially powered byPratt & Whitney JT9Dturbofanengines, thenGeneral Electric CF6andRolls-Royce RB211engines for the original variants. With a ten-abreast economy seating, it typically accommodates 366 passengers in threetravel classes.It has a pronounced 37.5°wing sweep,allowing a Mach 0.85 (490 kn; 900 km/h)cruise speed,and its heavy weight is supported by four main landing gear legs, each with a four-wheelbogie.The partialdouble-deck aircraftwas designed with a raised cockpit so it could be converted to afreighter airplaneby installing a front cargo door, as it was initially thought that it would eventually be superseded bysupersonic transports.

Boeing introduced the -200 in 1971, with uprated engines for a heaviermaximum takeoff weight(MTOW) of 833,000 pounds (378 t) from the initial 735,000 pounds (333 t), increasing the maximum range from 4,620 to 6,560nautical miles[nmi] (8,560 to 12,150 km; 5,320 to 7,550 mi). It was shortened for the longer-range747SPin 1976, and the 747-300 followed in 1983 with a stretched upper deck for up to 400 seats in three classes. The heavier747-400with improved RB211 and CF6 engines or the newPW4000engine (the JT9D successor), and a two-crewglass cockpit,was introduced in 1989 and is the most common variant. After several studies, the stretched747-8was launched on November 14, 2005, using theGeneral Electric GEnxengine first developed for theBoeing 787 Dreamliner(the inspiration for the -8 in the name), and was first delivered in October 2011. The 747 is the basis for several government and military variants, such as theVC-25(Air Force One),E-4Emergency Airborne Command Post,Shuttle Carrier Aircraft,and some experimental test aircraft such as theYAL-1andSOFIAairborne observatory.

Initial competition came from the smallertrijetwidebodies: theLockheed L-1011(introduced in 1972),McDonnell Douglas DC-10(1971) and laterMD-11(1990).Airbuscompeted with later variants with the heaviest versions of theA340until surpassing the 747 in size with theA380,delivered between 2007 and 2021. Freighter variants of the 747 remain popular with cargo airlines. The final 747 was delivered toAtlas Airin January 2023 after a 54-year production run, with 1,574 aircraft built. As of December 2023,64 Boeing 747s (4.1%) have beenlostinaccidents and incidents,in which a total of 3,746 people have died.

Development

Background

Cargo nose door open with cargo loader

In 1963, theUnited States Air Forcestarted a series of study projects on a very large strategic transport aircraft. Although theC-141 Starlifterwas being introduced, officials believed that a much larger and more capable aircraft was needed, especially to carry cargo that would not fit in any existing aircraft. These studies led to initial requirements for the CX-Heavy Logistics System (CX-HLS) in March 1964 for an aircraft with a load capacity of 180,000 pounds (81.6 t) and a speed of Mach 0.75 (430 kn; 800 km/h), and an unrefueled range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) with a payload of 115,000 pounds (52.2 t). The payload bay had to be 17 feet (5.18 m) wide by 13.5 feet (4.11 m) high and 100 feet (30 m) long with access through doors at the front and rear.

The desire to keep the number of engines to four required new engine designs with greatly increased power and better fuel economy. In May 1964, airframe proposals arrived from Boeing,Douglas,General Dynamics,Lockheed,andMartin Marietta;engine proposals were submitted byGeneral Electric,Curtiss-Wright,andPratt & Whitney.Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed were given additional study contracts for the airframe, along with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney for the engines.

The airframe proposals shared several features. As the CX-HLS needed to be able to be loaded from the front, a door had to be included where the cockpit usually was. All of the companies solved this problem by moving the cockpit above the cargo area; Douglas had a small "pod" just forward and above the wing, Lockheed used a long "spine" running the length of the aircraft with the wing spar passing through it, while Boeing blended the two, with a longer pod that ran from just behind the nose to just behind the wing.In 1965, Lockheed's aircraft design and General Electric's engine design were selected for the newC-5 Galaxytransport, which was the largest military aircraft in the world at the time.Boeing carried the nose door and raised cockpit concepts over to the design of the 747.

Airliner proposal

The 747 was conceived while air travel was increasing in the 1960s.The era of commercial jet transportation, led by the enormous popularity of theBoeing 707andDouglas DC-8,had revolutionized long-distance travel.In this growing jet age,Juan Trippe,president ofPan American Airways(Pan Am), one of Boeing's most important airline customers, asked for a new jet airliner2+1⁄2times size of the 707, with a 30% lower cost per unit of passenger-distance and the capability to offer mass air travel on international routes.Trippe also thought that airport congestion could be addressed by a larger new aircraft.

AnIran Air747-200, showing an early-production 747 cockpit with aflight engineer,located on the upper deck

In 1965,Joe Sutterwas transferred from Boeing's737development team to manage the design studies for the new airliner, already assigned the model number 747.Sutter began a design study with Pan Am and other airlines to better understand their requirements. At the time, many thought that long-range subsonic airliners would eventually be superseded bysupersonic transportaircraft.Boeing responded by designing the 747 so it could be adapted easily to carry freight and remain in production even if sales of the passenger version declined.

In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft for US$525 million(equivalent to $3.8 billion in 2023 dollars). During the ceremonial 747 contract-signing banquet in Seattle on Boeing's 50th Anniversary, Juan Trippe predicted that the 747 would be "…a great weapon for peace, competing withintercontinental missilesfor mankind's destiny ".As launch customer,and because of its early involvement before placing a formal order, Pan Am was able to influence the design and development of the 747 to an extent unmatched by a single airline before or since.

Design effort

Ultimately, the high-winged CX-HLS Boeing design was not used for the 747, although technologies developed for their bid had an influence.The original design included a full-length double-deck fuselage with eight-across seating and two aisles on the lower deck and seven-across seating and two aisles on the upper deck.However, concern over evacuation routes and limited cargo-carrying capability caused this idea to be scrapped in early 1966 in favor of a wider single deck design.The cockpit was therefore placed on a shortened upper deck so that a freight-loading door could be included in the nose cone; this design feature produced the 747's distinctive "hump".In early models, what to do with the small space in the pod behind the cockpit was not clear, and this was initially specified as a "lounge" area with no permanent seating.(A different configuration that had been considered to keep the flight deck out of the way for freight loading had the pilots below the passengers, and was dubbed the "anteater".)

ThePratt & Whitney JT9Dhigh-bypass turbofan engine was developed for the 747.

One of the principal technologies that enabled an aircraft as large as the 747 to be drawn up was thehigh-bypass turbofan engine.This engine technology was thought to be capable of delivering double the power of the earlierturbojetswhile consuming one-third less fuel. General Electric had pioneered the concept but was committed to developing the engine for the C-5 Galaxy and did not enter the commercial market until later.Pratt & Whitney was also working on the same principle and, by late 1966, Boeing, Pan Am and Pratt & Whitney agreed to develop a new engine, designated theJT9Dto power the 747.

The project was designed with a new methodology calledfault tree analysis,which allowed the effects of a failure of a single part to be studied to determine its impact on other systems.To address concerns about safety and flyability, the 747's design included structural redundancy, redundanthydraulicsystems, quadruple main landing gear and dual control surfaces.Additionally, some of the most advancedhigh-lift devicesused in the industry were included in the new design, to allow it to operate from existing airports. These includedKrueger flapsrunning almost the entire length of the wing's leading edge, as well as complex three-part slottedflapsalong the trailing edge of the wing.The wing's complex three-part flaps increase wing area by 21% and lift by 90% when fully deployed compared to their non-deployed configuration.

Boeing agreed to deliver the first 747 to Pan Am by the end of 1969. The delivery date left 28 months to design the aircraft, which was two-thirds of the normal time.The schedule was so fast-paced that the people who worked on it were given the nickname "The Incredibles".Developing the aircraft was such a technical and financial challenge that management was said to have "bet the company" when it started the project.Due to its massive size, Boeing subcontracted the assembly of subcomponents to other manufacturers, most notablyNorthropandGrumman(later merged intoNorthrop Grummanin 1994) for fuselage parts and trailing edge flaps respectively,Fairchildfor tailplane ailerons,andLing-Temco-Vought(LTV) for the empennage.

Production plant

747 final assembly at theBoeing Everett Factory

As Boeing did not have a plant large enough to assemble the giant airliner, they chose to build a new plant. The company considered locations in about 50 cities,and eventually decided to build the new plant some 30 miles (50 km) north ofSeattleon a site adjoining a military base atPaine FieldnearEverett,Washington.It bought the 780-acre (320 ha) site in June 1966.

Developing the 747 had been a major challenge, and building its assembly plant was also a huge undertaking. Boeing presidentWilliam M. Allenasked Malcolm T. Stamper, then head of the company's turbine division, to oversee construction of theEverett factoryand to start production of the 747.To level the site, more than four million cubic yards (three million cubic meters) of earth had to be moved.Time was so short that the 747's full-scalemock-upwas built before the factory roof above it was finished.The plant is thelargest building by volumeever built, and has been substantially expanded several times to permit construction of other models of Boeing wide-body commercial jets.

Flight testing

Theprototype 747was first displayed to the public on September 30, 1968.

Before the first 747 was fully assembled, testing began on many components and systems. One important test involved the evacuation of 560 volunteers from a cabin mock-up via the aircraft's emergency chutes. The first full-scale evacuation took two and a half minutes instead of the maximum of 90 seconds mandated by theFederal Aviation Administration(FAA), and several volunteers were injured. Subsequent test evacuations achieved the 90-second goal but caused more injuries. Most problematic was evacuation from the aircraft's upper deck; instead of using a conventional slide, volunteer passengers escaped by using a harness attached to a reel.Tests also involved taxiing such a large aircraft. Boeing built an unusual training device known as "Waddell's Wagon" (named for a 747 test pilot, Jack Waddell) that consisted of a mock-up cockpit mounted on the roof of a truck. While the first 747s were still being built, the device allowed pilots to practice taxi maneuvers from a high upper-deck position.

In 1968, the program cost was US$1 billion(equivalent to $6.7 billion in 2023 dollars). On September 30, 1968, thefirst 747was rolled out of the Everett assembly building before the world's press and representatives of the 26 airlines that had ordered the airliner.Over the following months, preparations were made for the first flight, which took place on February 9, 1969, with test pilots Jack Waddell andBrien Wygleat the controlsand Jess Wallick at the flight engineer's station. Despite a minor problem with one of the flaps, the flight confirmed that the 747 handled extremely well. The 747 was found to be largely immune to "Dutch roll",a phenomenon that had been a major hazard to the early swept-wing jets.

Issues, delays and certification

The 747's 16-wheel mainlanding gear

During later stages of the flight test program,fluttertesting showed that the wings suffered oscillation under certain conditions. This difficulty was partly solved by reducing the stiffness of some wing components. However, a particularly severe high-speed flutter problem was solved only by insertingdepleted uraniumcounterweights as ballast in the outboard enginenacellesof the early 747s.This measure caused some concern when these aircraft crashed, for exampleEl Al Flight 1862at Amsterdam in 1992 with 622 pounds (282 kg) of uranium in thetailplane(horizontal stabilizer); detailed investigations showed, however, that the best estimate of the exposure to depleted uranium was ".. several orders of magnitude less than the workers' limit for chronic exposure."

Theflight testprogram was hampered by problems with the 747's JT9D engines. Difficulties included engine stalls caused by rapid throttle movements and distortion of the turbine casings after a short period of service.The problems delayed 747 deliveries for several months; up to 20 aircraft at the Everett plant were stranded while awaiting engine installation.The program was further delayed when one of the five test aircraft suffered serious damage during a landing attempt atRenton Municipal Airport,the site of Boeing'sRenton factory.The incident happened on December 13, 1969, when a test aircraft was flown to Renton to have test equipment removed and a cabin installed. Pilot Ralph C. Cokely undershot the airport's short runway and the 747's right, outer landing gear was torn off and two enginenacelleswere damaged.However, these difficulties did not prevent Boeing from taking a test aircraft to the 28thParis Air Showin mid-1969, where it was displayed to the public for the first time.Finally, in December 1969, the 747 received its FAAairworthiness certificate,clearing it for introduction into service.

The huge cost of developing the 747 and building the Everett factory meant that Boeing had to borrow heavily from a banking syndicate. During the final months before delivery of the first aircraft, the company had to repeatedly request additional funding to complete the project. Had this been refused, Boeing's survival would have been threatened.The firm's debt exceeded $2 billion, with the $1.2 billion owed to the banks setting a record for all companies. Allen later said, "It was really too large a project for us."Ultimately, the gamble succeeded, and Boeing held a monopoly in very large passenger aircraft production for many years.

Entry into service

First LadyPat Nixonchristened the first commercial 747 on January 15, 1970.

On January 15, 1970,First LadyPat Nixonchristened Pan Am's first 747 atDulles International Airportin the presence of Pan Am chairmanNajeeb Halaby.Instead of champagne, red, white, and blue water was sprayed on the aircraft. The 747 entered service on January 22, 1970, on Pan Am's New York–London route;the flight had been planned for the evening of January 21, but engine overheating made the original aircraft (Clipper Young America, registration N735PA) unusable. Finding a substitute delayed the flight by more than six hours to the following day whenClipper Victor(registration N736PA) was used.The 747 enjoyed a fairly smooth introduction into service, overcoming concerns that some airports would not be able to accommodate an aircraft that large.Although technical problems occurred, they were relatively minor and quickly solved.

Improved 747 versions

Upper deck lounge configuration on an early 747

Stretched upper deck cabin of later 747s with six-abreast seating

After the initial 747-100, Boeing developed the-100B,a highermaximum takeoff weight(MTOW) variant, and the-100SR(Short Range), with higher passenger capacity.Increased maximum takeoff weight allows aircraft to carry more fuel and have longer range.The-200model followed in 1971, featuring more powerful engines and a higher MTOW. Passenger, freighter and combination passenger-freighter versions of the-200were produced.The shortened747SP(special performance) with a longer range was also developed, and entered service in 1976.

The 747 line was further developed with the launch of the 747-300 on June 11, 1980, followed by interest from Swissair a month later and the go-ahead for the project.The 300 series resulted from Boeing studies to increase theseating capacityof the 747, during which modifications such as fuselage plugs and extending the upper deck over the entire length of the fuselage were rejected. The first 747-300, completed in 1983, included a stretched upper deck, increased cruise speed, and increased seating capacity. The -300 variant was previously designated 747SUD for stretched upper deck, then 747-200 SUD,followed by 747EUD, before the 747-300 designation was used.Passenger, short range and combination freighter-passenger versions of the 300 series were produced.

In 1985, development of the longer range747-400began.The variant had a newglass cockpit,which allowed for a cockpit crew of two instead of three,new engines, lighter construction materials, and a redesigned interior. Development costs soared, and production delays occurred as new technologies were incorporated at the request of airlines. Insufficient workforce experience and reliance on overtime contributed to early production problems on the 747-400.The -400 entered service in 1989.

In 1991, a record-breaking 1,087 passengers were flown in a 747 during acovert operation to airlift Ethiopian Jews to Israel.Generally, the 747-400 held between 416 and 524 passengers.The 747 remained the heaviest commercial aircraft in regular service until the debut of theAntonov An-124Ruslan in 1982; variants of the 747-400 surpassed the An-124's weight in 2000. TheAntonov An-225Mriyacargo transport,which debuted in 1988, remains the world's largest aircraft by several measures (including the most accepted measures of maximum takeoff weight and length); one aircraft has been completed and was in service until 2022. TheScaled Composites Stratolaunchis currently the largest aircraft bywingspan.

Further developments

747-400 main deck economy class seating in 3–4–3 layout

After the arrival of the 747-400, several stretching schemes for the 747 were proposed. Boeing announced the larger 747-500X and-600Xpreliminary designs in 1996.The new variants would have cost more than US$5 billion to develop,and interest was not sufficient to launch the program.In 2000, Boeing offered the more modest 747X and 747X stretch derivatives as alternatives to the AirbusA38X.However, the 747X family was unable to attract enough interest to enter production. A year later, Boeing switched from the 747X studies to pursue theSonic Cruiser,and after the Sonic Cruiser program was put on hold, the787 Dreamliner.Some of the ideas developed for the 747X were used on the747-400ER,a longer range variant of the 747-400.

After several variants were proposed but later abandoned, some industry observers became skeptical of new aircraft proposals from Boeing.However, in early 2004, Boeing announced tentative plans for the 747 Advanced that were eventually adopted. Similar in nature to the 747-X, the stretched 747 Advanced used technology from the 787 to modernize the design and its systems. The 747 remained the largest passenger airliner in service until theAirbus A380began airline service in 2007.

A Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental ofLufthansa

On November 14, 2005, Boeing announced it was launching the 747 Advanced as theBoeing 747-8.The last 747-400s were completed in 2009.As of 2011,most orders of the 747-8 were for the freighter variant. On February 8, 2010, the 747-8 Freighter made itsmaiden flight.The first delivery of the 747-8 went toCargoluxin 2011.The first 747-8 Intercontinental passenger variant was delivered toLufthansaon May 5, 2012.The 1,500th Boeing 747 was delivered in June 2014 to Lufthansa.

In January 2016, Boeing stated it was reducing 747-8 production to six per year beginning in September 2016, incurring a $569 million post-tax charge against its fourth-quarter 2015 profits. At the end of 2015, the company had 20 orders outstanding.On January 29, 2016, Boeing announced that it had begun the preliminary work on the modifications to a commercial 747-8 for the nextAir Force Onepresidential aircraft, then expected to be operational by 2020.

On July 12, 2016, Boeing announced that it had finalized an order fromVolga-Dnepr Groupfor 20 747-8 freighters, valued at $7.58 billion (~$9.44 billion in 2023) at list prices. Four aircraft were delivered beginning in 2012. Volga-Dnepr Group is the parent of three major Russian air-freight carriers –Volga-Dnepr Airlines,AirBridgeCargo AirlinesandAtran Airlines.The new 747-8 freighters would replace AirBridgeCargo's current 747-400 aircraft and expand the airline's fleet and will be acquired through a mix of direct purchases and leasing over the next six years, Boeing said.

End of production

On July 27, 2016, in its quarterly report to theSecurities and Exchange Commission,Boeing discussed the potential termination of 747 production due to insufficient demand and market for the aircraft.With a firm order backlog of 21 aircraft and a production rate of six per year, program accounting had been reduced to 1,555 aircraft.In October 2016,UPS Airlinesordered 14 -8Fs to add capacity, along with 14 options, which it took in February 2018 to increase the total to 28 -8Fs on order.The backlog then stood at 25 aircraft, though several of these were orders from airlines that no longer intended to take delivery.

Atlas Air747-8F N863GT, the last Boeing 747 to be built and delivered

On July 2, 2020, it was reported that Boeing planned to end 747 production in 2022 upon delivery of the remaining jets on order to UPS and the Volga-Dnepr Group due to low demand.On July 29, 2020, Boeing confirmed that the final 747 would be delivered in 2022 as a result of "current market dynamics and outlook" stemming from theCOVID-19 pandemic,according to CEO David Calhoun.The last aircraft, a 747-8F forAtlas Airregistered N863GT, rolled off the production line on December 6, 2022,and was delivered on January 31, 2023.Boeing hosted an event at the Everett factory for thousands of workers as well as industry executives to commemorate the delivery.

Design

Three-view diagram of the original Boeing 747-100, showing its general configuration maintained in later variants

For design details of a particular generation, seeBoeing 747-400,747-8,and747SP.

The Boeing 747 is a large, wide-body (two-aisle) airliner with four wing-mounted engines. Its wings have a highsweepangle of 37.5° for a fast, efficient cruise speedof Mach 0.84 to 0.88, depending on the variant. The sweep also reduces the wingspan, allowing the 747 to use existinghangars.Its seating capacity is over 366 with a 3–4–3 seat arrangement (a cross section of three seats, an aisle, four seats, another aisle, and three seats) in economy class and a 2–3–2 layout in first class on the main deck. The upper deck has a 3–3 seat arrangement in economy class and a 2–2 layout in first class.

Raised above the main deck, the cockpit creates a hump. This raised cockpit allows front loading of cargo on freight variants.The upper deck behind the cockpit provides space for a lounge and/or extra seating. The "stretched upper deck" became available as an alternative on the 747-100B variant and later as standard beginning on the 747-300. The upper deck was stretched more on the 747-8. The 747 cockpit roof section also has an escape hatch from which crew can exit during the events of an emergency if they cannot do so through the cabin.

The 747's maximum takeoff weight ranges from 735,000 pounds (333 t) for the -100 to 970,000 pounds (440 t) for the -8. Its range has increased from 5,300 nautical miles (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) on the -100 to 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) on the -8I.

Front view showing the triple-slotted trailing edgeflaps

The 747 has redundant structures along with four redundant hydraulic systems and four main landing gears each with four wheels; these provide a good spread of support on the ground and safety in case of tire blow-outs. The main gear are redundant so that landing can be performed on two opposing landing gears if the others are not functioning properly.The 747 also has split control surfaces and was designed with sophisticated triple-slotted flaps that minimize landing speeds and allow the 747 to use standard-length runways.

For transportation of spare engines, the 747 can accommodate a non-functioning fifth-pod engine under the aircraft's port wing between the inner functioning engine and the fuselage.The fifth engine mount point was also used byVirgin Orbit'sLauncherOneprogram to carry an orbital-class rocket to cruise altitude where it was deployed.

Operational history

Atlas AirBoeing 747-400 atAdelaide Airport,operated as acargo airline

After the aircraft's introduction with Pan Am in 1970, other airlines that had bought the 747 to stay competitive began to put their own 747s into service.Boeing estimated that half of the early 747 sales were to airlines desiring the aircraft's long range rather than its payload capacity.While the 747 had the lowest potential operating cost per seat, this could only be achieved when the aircraft was fully loaded; costs per seat increased rapidly as occupancy declined. A moderately loaded 747, one with only 70 percent of its seats occupied, used more than 95 percent of the fuel needed by a fully occupied 747.Nonetheless, many flag-carriers purchased the 747 due to its prestige "even if it made no sense economically" to operate. During the 1970s and 1980s, over 30 regularly scheduled 747s could often be seen atJohn F. Kennedy International Airport.

Therecession of 1969–1970,despite having been characterized as relatively mild, greatly affected Boeing. For the year and a half after September 1970, it only sold two 747s in the world, both to Irish flag carrierAer Lingus. No 747s were sold to any American carrier for almost three years.When economic problems in the US and other countries after the1973 oil crisisled to reduced passenger traffic, several airlines found they did not have enough passengers to fly the 747 economically, and they replaced them with the smaller and recently introducedMcDonnell Douglas DC-10andLockheed L-1011 TriStartrijetwide bodies(and later the767andAirbus A300/A310twinjets). Having tried replacing coach seats on its 747s with piano bars in an attempt to attract more customers, American Airlines eventually relegated its 747s to cargo service and in 1983 exchanged them with Pan Am for smaller aircraft;Delta Air Linesalso removed its 747s from service after several years.Later, Delta acquired 747s again in 2008 as part of its merger withNorthwest Airlines,although it retired theBoeing 747-400fleet in December 2017.

International flights bypassing traditional hub airports and landing at smaller cities became more common throughout the 1980s, thus eroding the 747's original market.Many international carriers continued to use the 747 onPacificroutes.In Japan, 747s on domestic routes were configured to carry nearly the maximum passenger capacity.

Variants

The 747-100 with a range of 4,620 nautical miles (8,556 km), was the original variant launched in 1966. The 747-200 soon followed, with its launch in 1968. The 747-300 was launched in 1980 and was followed by the 747-400 in 1985. Ultimately, the 747-8 was announced in 2005. Several versions of each variant have been produced, and many of the early variants were in production simultaneously. TheInternational Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) classifies variants using a shortened code formed by combining the model number and the variant designator (e.g. "B741" for all -100 models).

747-100

The original 747-100 has a short upper deck with three windows per side;Pan Amintroduced it on January 22, 1970,This 747 N736PA would later crash asPan Am Flight 1736

The first 747-100s were built with six upper deck windows (three per side) to accommodate upstairs lounge areas. Later, as airlines began to use the upper deck for premium passenger seating instead of lounge space, Boeing offered an upper deck with ten windows on either side as an option. Some early -100s were retrofitted with the new configuration.The -100 was equipped withPratt & Whitney JT9D-3A engines. No freighter version of this model was developed, but many 747-100s were converted into freighters as 747-100(SF).The first 747-100(SF) was delivered to Flying Tiger Line in 1974.A total of 168 747-100s were built; 167 were delivered to customers, while Boeing kept the prototype,City of Everett.In 1972, its unit cost was US$24M(180.4M today).

747SR

Responding to requests from Japanese airlines for a high-capacity aircraft to serve domestic routes between major cities, Boeing developed the 747SR as a short-range version of the 747-100 with lower fuel capacity and greater payload capability. With increased economy class seating, up to 498 passengers could be carried in early versions and up to 550 in later models.Intended for shorter routes and thus more turn arounds, the 747SR had an economic design life objective of 52,000 flights during 20 years of operation, compared to 24,600 flights in 20 years for the standard 747.The initial 747SR model, the -100SR, had a strengthened body structure and landing gear to accommodate the added stress accumulated from a greater number of takeoffs and landings.Extra structural support was built into the wings, fuselage, and the landing gear along with a 20% reduction in fuel capacity.

One of the two 747-100BSR with the stretched upper deck (SUD) made forJAL

The initial order for the -100SR – four aircraft for Japan Air Lines (JAL, laterJapan Airlines) – was announced on October 30, 1972; rollout occurred on August 3, 1973, and the first flight took place on August 31, 1973. The type was certified by the FAA on September 26, 1973, with the first delivery on the same day. The -100SR entered service with JAL, the type's sole customer, on October 7, 1973, and typically operated flights within Japan.Seven -100SRs were built between 1973 and 1975, each with a 520,000-pound (240 t) MTOW andPratt & Whitney JT9D-7A engines derated to 43,000 pounds-force (190 kN) of thrust.

Following the -100SR, Boeing produced the -100BSR, a 747SR variant with increased takeoff weight capability. Debuting in 1978, the -100BSR also incorporated structural modifications for a high cycle-to-flying hour ratio; a related standard -100B model debuted in 1979. The -100BSR first flew on November 3, 1978, with first delivery toAll Nippon Airways(ANA) on December 21, 1978. A total of 20 -100BSRs were produced for ANA and JAL.The -100BSR had a 600,000 pounds (270 t) MTOW and was powered by the same JT9D-7A orGeneral Electric CF6-45 engines used on the -100SR. ANA operated this variant on domestic Japanese routes with 455 or 456 seats until retiring its last aircraft in March 2006.

In 1986, two -100BSR SUD models, featuring the stretched upper deck (SUD) of the -300, were produced for JAL.The type's maiden flight occurred on February 26, 1986, with FAA certification and first delivery on March 24, 1986.JAL operated the -100BSR SUD with 563 seats on domestic routes until their retirement in the third quarter of 2006. While only two -100BSR SUDs were produced, in theory, standard -100Bs can be modified to the SUD certification.Overall, 29 Boeing 747SRs were built.

747-100B

AnIran Air747-100B, the last 747-100 in passenger service

The 747-100B model was developed from the -100SR, using its stronger airframe and landing gear design. The type had an increased fuel capacity of 48,070 US gal (182,000 L), allowing for a 5,000-nautical-mile (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) range with a typical 452-passenger payload, and an increased MTOW of 750,000 lb (340 t) was offered. The first -100B order, one aircraft forIran Air,was announced on June 1, 1978. This version first flew on June 20, 1979, received FAA certification on August 1, 1979, and was delivered the next day.Nine -100Bs were built, one forIran Airand eight forSaudi Arabian Airlines.Unlike the original -100, the -100B was offered with Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A, CF6-50, orRolls-RoyceRB211-524engines. However, only RB211-524 (Saudia) and JT9D-7A (Iran Air) engines were ordered.The last 747-100B, EP-IAM was retired by Iran Air in 2014, the last commercial operator of the 747-100 and -100B.

747SP

Main article:Boeing 747SP

The 747SP was the only 747 model with a shortened fuselage

The development of the 747SP stemmed from a joint request between Pan American World Airways andIran Air,who were looking for a high-capacity airliner with enough range to cover Pan Am's New York–Middle Eastern routes and Iran Air's planned Tehran–New York route. The Tehran–New York route, when launched, was the longestnon-stopcommercial flight in the world. The 747SP is 48 feet 4 inches (14.73 m) shorter than the 747-100. Fuselage sections were eliminated fore and aft of the wing, and the center section of the fuselage was redesigned to fit mating fuselage sections. The SP's flaps used a simplified single-slotted configuration.The 747SP, compared to earlier variants, had a tapering of the aft upper fuselage into theempennage,a double-hinged rudder, and longer vertical and horizontal stabilizers.Power was provided by Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7(A/F/J/FW) or Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines.

The 747SP was granted a type certificate on February 4, 1976, and entered service with launch customers Pan Am and Iran Air that same year.The aircraft was chosen by airlines wishing to serve major airports with short runways.A total of 45 747SPs were built,with the 44th 747SP delivered on August 30, 1982. In 1987, Boeing re-opened the 747SP production line after five years to build one last 747SP for an order by the United Arab Emirates government.In addition to airline use, one 747SP was modified for theNASA/German Aerospace CenterSOFIAexperiment.Iran Air, the last civil operator of the type, retired its final 747-SP (EP-IAC) in June 2016.

747-200

Most 747-200s had ten windows per side on the upper deck

While the 747-100 powered by Pratt & WhitneyJT9D-3Aengines offered enough payload and range for medium-haul operations, it was marginal for long-haul route sectors. The demand for longer range aircraft with increased payload quickly led to the improved -200, which featured more powerful engines, increased MTOW, and greater range than the -100. A few early -200s retained the three-window configuration of the -100 on the upper deck, but most were built with a ten-window configuration on each side.The 747-200 was produced in passenger (-200B), freighter (-200F), convertible (-200C), and combi (-200M) versions.

The 747-200B was the basic passenger version, with increased fuel capacity and more powerful engines; it entered service in February 1971.In its first three years of production, the -200 was equipped withPratt & Whitney JT9D-7 engines (initially the only engine available). Range with a full passenger load started at over 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) and increased to 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) with later engines. Most -200Bs had an internally stretched upper deck, allowing for up to 16 passenger seats.The freighter model, the 747-200F, had a hinged nose cargo door and could be fitted with an optional side cargo door,and had a capacity of 105 tons (95.3 tonnes) and an MTOW of up to 833,000 pounds (378 t). It entered service in 1972 with Lufthansa.The convertible version, the 747-200C, could be converted between a passenger and a freighter or used in mixed configurations,and featured removable seats and a nose cargo door.The -200C could also be outfitted with an optional side cargo door on the main deck.

Thecombi aircraftmodel, the 747-200M (originally designated 747-200BC), could carry freight in the rear section of the main deck via a side cargo door. A removable partition on the main deck separated the cargo area at the rear from the passengers at the front. The -200M could carry up to 238 passengers in a three-class configuration with cargo carried on the main deck. The model was also known as the 747-200 Combi.As on the -100, a stretched upper deck (SUD) modification was later offered. A total of 10 747-200s operated byKLMwere converted.Union de Transports Aériens(UTA) also had two aircraft converted.

After launching the -200 with Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7 engines, on August 1, 1972, Boeing announced that it had reached an agreement with General Electric to certify the 747 withCF6-50series engines to increase the aircraft's market potential. Rolls-Royce followed 747 engine production with a launch order fromBritish Airwaysfor four aircraft. The option ofRB211-524Bengines was announced on June 17, 1975.The -200 was the first 747 to provide a choice of powerplant from the three major engine manufacturers. In 1976, its unit cost was US$39M (215.5M today).

A total of 393 of the 747-200 versions had been built when production ended in 1991.Of these, 225 were -200B, 73 were -200F, 13 were -200C, 78 were -200M, and 4 were military.Iran Air retired the last passenger 747-200 in May 2016, 36 years after it was delivered.As of July 2019,five 747-200s remain in service as freighters.

747-300

A 747-300, displaying the stretched upper deck.Swissairtook the first delivery on March 23, 1983.

The 747-300 features a 23-foot-4-inch-longer (7.11 m) upper deck than the -200.The stretched upper deck (SUD) has two emergency exit doors and is the most visible difference between the -300 and previous models.After being made standard on the 747-300, the SUD was offered as a retrofit, and as an option to earlier variants still in-production. An example for a retrofit were twoUTA-200 Combis being converted in 1986, and an example for the option were two brand-new JAL -100 aircraft (designated -100BSR SUD), the first of which was delivered on March 24, 1986.

The 747-300 introduced a new straight stairway to the upper deck, instead of a spiral staircase on earlier variants, which creates room above and below for more seats.Minor aerodynamic changes allowed the -300's cruise speed to reach Mach 0.85 compared with Mach 0.84 on the -200 and -100 models, while retaining the same takeoff weight.The -300 could be equipped with the same Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce powerplants as on the -200, as well as updatedGeneral Electric CF6-80C2B1 engines.

Swissair placed the first order for the 747-300 on June 11, 1980.The variant revived the 747-300 designation, which had been previously used on a design study that did not reach production. The 747-300 first flew on October 5, 1982, and the type's first delivery went to Swissair on March 23, 1983.In 1982, its unit cost was US$83M (270.4M today). Besides the passenger model, two other versions (-300M, -300SR) were produced. The 747-300M features cargo capacity on the rear portion of the main deck, similar to the -200M, but with the stretched upper deck it can carry more passengers.The 747-300SR, a short range, high-capacity domestic model, was produced for Japanese markets with a maximum seating for 584.No production freighter version of the 747-300 was built, but Boeing began modifications of used passenger -300 models into freighters in 2000.

A total of 81 747-300 series aircraft were delivered, 56 for passenger use, 21 -300M and 4 -300SR versions.In 1985, just two years after the -300 entered service, the type was superseded by the announcement of the more advanced 747-400.The last 747-300 was delivered in September 1990 toSabena.While some -300 customers continued operating the type, several large carriers replaced their 747-300s with 747-400s.Air France,Air India,Japan Airlines,Pakistan International Airlines,andQantaswere some of the last major carriers to operate the 747-300. On December 29, 2008, Qantas flew its last scheduled 747-300 service, operating from Melbourne to Los Angeles viaAuckland.In July 2015, Pakistan International Airlines retired their final 747-300 after 30 years of service.Mahan Airwas the last passenger operator of the Boeing 747-300. In 2022, their last 747-300M was leased byEmtrasur Cargo.The 747-300M was later seized by theUS Department of Justiceand scrapped in 2024.As of 2024,TransAVIAExport,a Belarusian cargo airline operates one Boeing 747-300F.As of 2024, a formerSaudia747-300 is used for VVIP transport, operated by theSaudi Arabian Government.

747-400

Main article:Boeing 747-400

The improved 747-400, featuring cantedwinglets,entered service in February 1989 withNorthwest Airlines

The 747-400 is an improved model with increased range. It has wingtip extensions of 6 ft (1.8 m) andwingletsof 6 ft (1.8 m), which improve the type'sfuel efficiencyby four percent compared to previous 747 versions.The 747-400 introduced a new glass cockpit designed for a flight crew of two instead of three, with a reduction in the number of dials, gauges and knobs from 971 to 365 through the use of electronics. The type also features tail fuel tanks, revised engines, and a new interior. The longer range has been used by some airlines to bypass traditional fuel stops, such asAnchorage.A 747-400 loaded with 126,000 pounds (57,000 kg) of fuel flying 3,500 miles (3,000 nmi; 5,600 km) consumes an average of 5 US gallons per mile (12 L/km).Powerplants include thePratt & Whitney PW4062,General Electric CF6-80C2, and Rolls-Royce RB211-524.As a result of the Boeing 767 development overlapping with the 747-400's development, both aircraft can use the same three powerplants and are even interchangeable between the two aircraft models.

The-400was offered in passenger (-400), freighter (-400F), combi (-400M), domestic (-400D), extended range passenger (-400ER), and extended range freighter (-400ERF) versions. Passenger versions retain the same upper deck as the-300,while the freighter version does not have an extended upper deck.The 747-400D was designed for short-range operations with maximum seating for 624. So winglets were not included though they can be retrofitted.Cruising speed is up to Mach 0.855 on different versions of the 747-400.

The passenger version first entered service in February 1989 with launch customer Northwest Airlines on the Minneapolis to Phoenix route.The combi version entered service in September 1989 with KLM, while the freighter version entered service in November 1993 with Cargolux. The 747-400ERF entered service with Air France in October 2002, while the 747-400ER entered service with Qantas,its sole customer, in November 2002. In January 2004, Boeing andCathay Pacificlaunched the Boeing 747-400 Special Freighter program,later referred to as the Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF), to modify passenger 747-400s for cargo use. The first 747-400BCF was redelivered in December 2005.

In March 2007, Boeing announced that it had no plans to produce further passenger versions of the -400.However, orders for 36 -400F and -400ERF freighters were already in place at the time of the announcement.The last passenger version of the 747-400 was delivered in April 2005 to China Airlines. Some of the last built 747-400s were delivered with Dreamliner livery along with the modern Signature interior from theBoeing 777.A total of 694 of the 747-400 series aircraft were delivered.At various times, the largest 747-400 operator has includedSingapore Airlines,Japan Airlines,and British Airways.As of July 2019,331 Boeing 747-400s were in service;there were only 10 Boeing 747-400s in passenger service as of September 2021.

747 LCF Dreamlifter

Main article:Boeing Dreamlifter

TheBoeing Dreamlifter,a modified 747-400, first flew on September 9, 2006

The 747-400 Dreamlifter(originally called the 747 Large Cargo Freighter or LCF) is a Boeing-designed modification of existing 747-400s into a largeroutsize cargofreighterconfiguration to ferry 787 Dreamliner sub-assemblies.Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporationof Taiwan was contracted to complete modifications of 747-400s into Dreamlifters in Taoyuan. The aircraft flew for the first time on September 9, 2006, in a test flight.Modification of four aircraft was completed by February 2010.The Dreamlifters have been placed into service transporting sub-assemblies for the 787 program to the Boeing plant in Everett, Washington, for final assembly.The aircraft is certified to carry only essential crew with no passengers.

747-8

Main article:Boeing 747-8

The stretched and re-enginedBoeing 747-8made its maiden flight on February 8, 2010, as a freighter

Boeing announced a new 747 variant, the 747-8, on November 14, 2005. Referred to as the747 Advancedprior to its launch, Boeing selected the designation 747-8 to show the connection with theBoeing 787 Dreamliner,as the aircraft would use technology and theGeneral Electric GEnxengines from the 787 to modernize the design and its systems.The variant is designed to be quieter, more economical, and more environmentally friendly. The 747-8's fuselage is lengthened from 232 feet (71 m) to 251 feet (77 m),marking the first stretch variant of the aircraft.

The 747-8 Freighter, or 747-8F, has 16% more payload capacity than its predecessor, allowing it to carry seven more standard air cargo containers, with a maximum payload capacity of 154short tons(140t) of cargo.As on previous 747 freighters, the 747-8F features a flip up nose-door, a side-door on the main deck, and a side-door on the lower deck ( "belly" ) to aid loading and unloading. The 747-8F made its maiden flight on February 8, 2010.The variant received its amendedtype certificatejointly from the FAA and theEuropean Aviation Safety Agency(EASA) on August 19, 2011.The -8F was first delivered to Cargolux on October 12, 2011.

The passenger version, named 747-8 Intercontinental or 747-8I, is designed to carry up to 467 passengers in a 3-class configuration and fly more than 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at Mach 0.855. As a derivative of the already common 747-400, the 747-8I has the economic benefit of similar training and interchangeable parts.The type's first test flight occurred on March 20, 2011.The 747-8 has surpassed theAirbus A340-600 as the world's longest airliner, a record it would hold until the777X,which first flew in 2020. The first -8I was delivered in May 2012 to Lufthansa.The 747-8 has received 155 total orders, including 106 for the -8F and 47 for the -8I as of June 2021.The final 747-8F was delivered to Atlas Air on January 31, 2023, marking the end of the production of the Boeing 747 series.

Government, military, and other variants

Air Force One,aBoeing VC-25,overMount Rushmore

747 "airborne aircraft carrier" concept

Shuttle Carrier Aircraftcarrying aSpace Shuttle orbiter

• VC-25– This aircraft is the U.S. Air Forcevery important person(VIP) version of the 747-200B. The U.S. Air Force operates two of them inVIPconfiguration as the VC-25A. Tail numbers 28000 and 29000 are popularly known asAir Force One,which is technically the air-traffic call sign for anyUnited States Air Forceaircraft carrying the U.S. president.Partially completed aircraft from Everett, Washington, were flown toWichita,Kansas, for final outfitting byBoeing Military Airplane Company.Two new aircraft, based around the 747-8, are being procured which will be designated as VC-25B.
• E-4B– This is an airborne command post designed for use in nuclear war. Three E-4As, based on the 747-200B, with a fourth aircraft, with more powerful engines and upgraded systems delivered in 1979 as an E-4B, with the three E-4As upgraded to this standard.Formerly known as the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (referred to colloquially as "Kneecap" ), this type is now referred to as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC).
  • Survivable Airborne Operations Center- In April 2024,Sierra Nevada Corporationwas awarded a contract to develop and build theSurvivable Airborne Operations Centeraircraft to replace theBoeing E-4 NAOC.Five 747-8Is were purchased fromKorean Airfor conversion, with the contract calling for nine in total.
• YAL-1– This was the experimentalAirborne Laser,a planned component of the U.S.National Missile Defense.
• Shuttle Carrier Aircraft(SCA)– Two 747s were modified to carry theSpace Shuttle orbiter.The first was a 747-100 (N905NA), and the other was a 747-100SR (N911NA). The first SCA carried the prototypeEnterpriseduring theApproach and Landing Testsin the late 1970s. The two SCA later carried all five operational Space Shuttle orbiters.
• C-33– This aircraft was a proposed U.S. military version of the 747-400F intended to augment theC-17fleet. The plan was canceled in favor of additional C-17s.
• KC-25/33– A proposed 747-200F was also adapted as anaerial refuelingtankerand was bid against the DC-10-30 during the 1970s Advanced Cargo Transport Aircraft (ACTA) program that produced theKC-10 Extender.Before the 1979Iranian Revolution,Iran bought four 747-100 aircraft with air-refueling boom conversions to support its fleet ofF-4 Phantoms.There is a report of the Iranians using a 747 Tanker inH-3 airstrikeduringIran–Iraq War.It is unknown whether these aircraft remain usable as tankers. Since then there have been proposals to use a 747-400 for that role.
• 747F Airlifter– Proposed USmilitary transportversion of the 747-200F intended as an alternative to further purchases of theC-5 Galaxy.This 747 would have had a special nose jack to lower the sill height for the nose door. System tested in 1980 on aFlying Tiger Line747-200F.
• 747 CMCA– This "Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft" variant was considered by the U.S. Air Force during the development of theB-1 Lancerstrategic bomber. It would have been equipped with 50 to 100AGM-86 ALCMcruise missileson rotary launchers. This plan was abandoned in favor of more conventional strategic bombers.
• MC-747– Two separate studies from the 1970s and 2005, the first by Boeing and the second byATKandBAE Systems,to horizontally store up to fourPeacekeeperICBMsor sevenMinutemenabove bomb bay-like doors in the first study,and to vertically store twelve Minutemen or 32JDAM-equipped conventional missiles for launch fromin situtubes in the second.
• 747 AAC– A Boeing study under contract from the USAF for an "airborne aircraft carrier"for up to 10 Boeing Model 985-121"microfighters"with the ability to launch, retrieve, re-arm, and refuel. Boeing believed that the scheme would be able to deliver a flexible and fast carrier platform with global reach, particularly where other bases were not available. Modified versions of the 747-200 and Lockheed C-5A were considered as the base aircraft. The concept, which included a complementary 747 AWACS version with two reconnaissance" microfighters ", was considered technically feasible in 1973.
• Evergreen 747 Supertanker– A Boeing 747-200 modified as an aerial application platform for fire fighting using 20,000 US gallons (76,000 L) of firefighting chemicals.
• Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy(SOFIA) – A former Pan Am Boeing 747SP modified to carry a large infrared-sensitive telescope, in a joint venture of NASA andDLR.High altitudes are needed forinfrared astronomy,to rise above infrared-absorbing water vapor in the atmosphere.
• A number of other governments also use the 747 as a VIP transport, including Bahrain, Brunei,India,Iran,Japan,Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. SeveralBoeing 747-8shave been ordered byBoeing Business Jetfor conversion to VIP transports for several unidentified customers.

Proposed variants

Boeing studied a number of 747 variants that did not advance beyond the concept stage.

747 trijet

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Boeing studied the development of a shorter 747 withthree engines,to compete with the smaller Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and McDonnell Douglas DC-10. The center engine would have been fitted in the tail with anS-ductintake similar to the L-1011's. Overall, the 747 trijet would have had more payload, range, and passenger capacity than either of the two other aircraft. However, engineering studies showed that a major redesign of the 747 wing would be necessary. Maintaining the same 747 handling characteristics would be important to minimize pilot retraining. Boeing decided instead to pursue a shortened four-engine 747, resulting in the 747SP.

747-500

In January 1986, Boeing outlined preliminary studies to build a larger, ultra-long haul version named the 747-500, which would enter service in the mid- to late-1990s. The aircraft derivative would use engines evolved from unducted fan (UDF) (propfan) technology byGeneral Electric,but the engines would have shrouds, sport abypass ratioof 15–20, and have a propfan diameter of 10–12 feet (3.0–3.7 m).The aircraft would be stretched (including the upper deck section) to a capacity of 500 seats, have a new wing to reduce drag, cruise at a faster speed to reduce flight times, and have a range of at least 8,700 nmi; 16,000 km, which would allow airlines to fly nonstop betweenLondon, UKandSydney, Australia.

747 ASB

Boeing announced the 747 ASB (Advanced Short Body) in 1986 as a response to the Airbus A340 and theMcDonnell Douglas MD-11.This aircraft design would have combined the advanced technology used on the 747-400 with the foreshortened 747SP fuselage. The aircraft was to carry 295 passengers over a range of 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi).However, airlines were not interested in the project and it was canceled later that year.

747-500X, -600X, and -700X

The proposed 747-500X and -600X as depicted in a 1998FAAillustration

Boeing announced the 747-500X and -600X at the 1996Farnborough Airshow.The proposed models would have combined the 747's fuselage with a new wing spanning 251 feet (77 m) derived from the 777. Other changes included adding more powerful engines and increasing the number of tires from two to four on the nose landing gear and from 16 to 20 on the main landing gear.

The 747-500X concept featured a fuselage length increased by 18 feet (5.5 m) to 250 feet (76 m), and the aircraft was to carry 462 passengers over a range up to 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi), with a gross weight of over 1.0Mlb(450 tonnes).The 747-600X concept featured a greater stretch to 279 feet (85 m) with seating for 548 passengers, a range of up to 7,700 nmi (14,300 km; 8,900 mi), and a gross weight of 1.2 Mlb (540 tonnes).A third study concept, the 747-700X, would have combined the wing of the 747-600X with a widened fuselage, allowing it to carry 650 passengers over the same range as a 747-400.The cost of the changes from previous 747 models, in particular the new wing for the 747-500X and -600X, was estimated to be more than US$5 billion.Boeing was not able to attract enough interest to launch the aircraft.

747X and 747X Stretch

As Airbus progressed with itsA3XXstudy, Boeing offered a 747 derivative as an alternative in 2000; a more modest proposal than the previous -500X and -600X with the 747's overall wing design and a new segment at the root, increasing the span to 229 ft (69.8 m).Power would have been supplied by either theEngine Alliance GP7172or theRolls-Royce Trent 600,which were also proposed for the767-400ERX.A new flight deck based on the 777's would be used. The 747X aircraft was to carry 430 passengers over ranges of up to 8,700 nmi (16,100 km; 10,000 mi). The 747X Stretch would be extended to 263 ft (80.2 m) long, allowing it to carry 500 passengers over ranges of up to 7,800 nmi (14,400 km; 9,000 mi).Both would feature an interior based on the 777.Freighter versions of the 747X and 747X Stretch were also studied.

The 747-400ER was derived from the 747-400X study.

Like its predecessor, the 747X family was unable to garner enough interest to justify production, and it was shelved along with the 767-400ERX in March 2001, when Boeing announced theSonic Cruiserconcept.Though the 747X design was less costly than the 747-500X and -600X, it was criticized for not offering a sufficient advance from the existing 747-400. The 747X did not make it beyond the drawing board, but the 747-400X being developed concurrently moved into production to become the 747-400ER.

747-400XQLR

After the end of the 747X program, Boeing continued to study improvements that could be made to the 747. The 747-400XQLR (Quiet Long Range) was meant to have an increased range of 7,980 nmi (14,780 km; 9,180 mi), with improvements to boost efficiency and reduce noise.Improvements studied included raked wingtips similar to those used on the 767-400ER and a sawtooth engine nacelle for noise reduction.Although the 747-400XQLR did not move to production, many of its features were used for the 747 Advanced, which was launched as the747-8in 2005.

Operators

Main article:List of Boeing 747 operators

In 1979, Qantas became the first airline in the world to operate an all Boeing 747 fleet, with seventeen aircraft.

As of July 2019,there were 462 Boeing 747s in airline service, withAtlas AirandBritish Airwaysbeing the largest operators with 33 747-400s each.

The last US passenger Boeing 747 was retired from Delta Air Lines in December 2017. The model flew for almost every Americanmajor carriersince its 1970 introduction.Delta flew three of its last four aircraft on a farewell tour, from Seattle to Atlanta on December 19 then to Los Angeles and Minneapolis/St Paul on December 20.

As theIATAforecast an increase inair freightfrom 4% to 5% in 2018 fueled by booming trade for time-sensitive goods, from smartphones to fresh flowers, demand for freighters is strong while passenger 747s are phased out. Of the 1,544 produced, 890 are retired; as of 2018,a small subset of those which were intended to be parted-out got $3 millionD-checksbefore flying again. Young -400s were sold for 320 million yuan ($50 million) and Boeing stopped convertingfreighters,which used to cost nearly $30 million. This comeback helped the airframer financing armBoeing Capitalto shrink its exposure to the 747-8 from $1.07 billion in 2017 to $481 million in 2018.

In July 2020, British Airways announced that it was retiring its 747 fleet.The final British Airways 747 flights departedLondon Heathrowon October 8, 2020.

Orders and deliveries

Year	Total	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
Orders	1,573	–	–	5	1	–	13	6	18	6	2	13	7	3	1	5	2	16	53
Deliveries	1,573	1	5	7	5	7	6	14	9	18	19	24	31	9	–	8	14	16	14

Year	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990	1989	1988	1987	1986
Orders	46	10	4	17	16	26	35	15	36	56	32	16	2	23	31	122	56	49	66	84
Deliveries	13	15	19	27	31	25	47	53	39	26	25	40	56	61	64	70	45	24	23	35

Year	1985	1984	1983	1982	1981	1980	1979	1978	1977	1976	1975	1974	1973	1972	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966
Orders	42	23	24	14	23	49	72	76	42	14	20	29	29	18	7	20	30	22	43	83
Deliveries	24	16	22	26	53	73	67	32	20	27	21	22	30	30	69	92	4	–	–	–

Boeing 747 orders and deliveries (cumulative, by year):

OrdersDeliveries— as of February 2023

Model summary

Model Series	ICAOcode	Deliveries
747-100	B741 / BSCA	167	205
747-100B		9
747-100SR	B74R	29
747SP	B74S	45	45
747-200B	B742	225	393
747-200C		13
747-200F		73
747-200M		78
747 E-4A		3
747-E4B		1
747-300	B743	56	81
747-300M		21
747-300SR		4
747-400	B744 / BLCF	442	694
747-400ER		6
747-400ERF		40
747-400F		126
747-400M		61
747-400D	B74D	19
747-8I	B748	48	155
747-8F		107
747 Total		1,573

Orders and deliveries through to the end of February 2023.

Accidents and incidents

Main article:Boeing 747 hull losses

As of November 2023,the 747 has been involved in 173aviation accidents and incidents,including 64hull losses(52 in-flight accidents),causing 3,746 fatalities.There have been several hijackings of Boeing 747s, such asPan Am Flight 73,a 747-100 hijacked by four terrorists, resulting in 20 deaths.The 747 also fell victim to three mid-air bombings, two of which resulted in fatalities and hull losses,Air India Flight 182in 1985, andPan Am Flight 103in 1988.

Few crashes have been attributed to 747 design flaws. The deadliest aviation accident,the Tenerife airport disaster,resulted from pilot error and communications failure, while theJapan Air Lines Flight 123andChina Airlines Flight 611crashes stemmed from improper aircraft repair due to a tailstrike.United Airlines Flight 811,which suffered anexplosive decompressionmid-flight on February 24, 1989, led theNational Transportation Safety Board(NTSB) to issue a recommendation that the Boeing 747-100 and 747-200 cargo doors similar to those on the Flight 811 aircraft be modified to those featured on the Boeing 747-400.Korean Air Lines Flight 007was shot down by a Soviet fighter aircraft in 1983 after it had strayed into Soviet territory, causing US President Ronald Reagan to authorize the then-strictly-militaryglobal positioning system(GPS) for civilian use.South African Airways Flight 295,a 747-200M Combi, which crashed on 28 November 1987 due to an inflight fire, led to the mandate of adding fire-suppression systems on board Combi variants.

The lack of adequate warning systems combined with flight crew error led to a preventable crash ofLufthansa Flight 540in November 1974, which was the first fatal crash of a 747,while an instrument malfunction leading to disorientation of the crew led to the crash ofAir India Flight 855on New Years Day in 1978.TWA Flight 800,a 747-100 that exploded in mid-air on July 17, 1996, was probably caused due to sparking from the old and cracked electrical wires inside the fuel tank, where voltage levels exceeded the maximum limit, causing ignition of the fuel vapors inside the tank.This finding led the FAA to adopt a rule in July 2008 requiring installation of aninerting systemin the center fuel tank of most large aircraft, after years of research into solutions. At the time, the new safety system was expected to cost US$100,000 to $450,000 per aircraft and weigh approximately 200 pounds (91 kg).Two 747-200F freighters -China Airlines Flight 358in December 1991 andEl Al Flight 1862in October 1992, crashed after the fuse pins for an engine (no. 3) broke off shortly after take-off due to metal fatigue, and instead of simply dropping away from the wing, the engine knocked off the adjacent engine and damaged the wing.Following these crashes, Boeing issued a directive to examine and replace all fuse pins found to be cracked.

Other incidents did not result in any hull losses, but the planes suffered certain damages and were put back into service after repair. On July 30, 1971,Pan Am Flight 845struck approach lighting system structures while taking off from San Francisco for Tokyo, Japan; the plane dumped fuel and landed back. The cause was pilot error with improper calculations, and the plane was repaired and returned to service.On June 24, 1982,British Airways Flight 9,a Boeing 747-200, registrationG-BDXH,flew through a cloud of volcanic ash and dust from the eruption ofMount Galunggung,suffering an all engine flameout; the crew restarted the engines and successfully landed at Jakarta. The volcanic ash caused windscreens to be sandblasted along with engine damage and paint rip-off; the plane was repaired with engines replaced and returned to service.On December 11, 1994, on boardPhilippine Airlines Flight 434from Manila to Tokyo via Cebu, a bomb exploded under a seat, killing one passenger; the plane landed safely at Okinawa despite damage to the plane's controls. The bomber,Ramzi Yousef,was caught on 7 February 1995 in Islamabad, Pakistan, and the plane was repaired, but converted for cargo use.

Preserved aircraft

Aircraft on display

Boeing 747-230B inLufthansalivery on display at theTechnikmuseum Speyerin Germany

Boeing 747-128 on display at theMusée de l'Air et de l'Espacein France

As increasing numbers of "classic" 747-100 and 747-200 series aircraft have been retired, some have been used for other uses such as museum displays. Some older 747-300s and 747-400s were later added to museum collections.

• 20235/001 – 747-121 registrationN7470City of Everett,the first 747 and prototype, is at theMuseum of Flight,Seattle, Washington.
• 19651/025 – 747-121 registrationN747GEat thePima Air & Space Museum,Tucson, Arizona, US.
• 19778/027 – 747-151 registration N601US nose at theNational Air and Space Museum,Washington, D.C.
• 19661/070 – 747-121(SF) registration N681UP preserved at a plaza on Jungong Road, Shanghai, China.
• 19896/072 – 747-132(SF) registration N481EV at theEvergreen Aviation & Space Museum,McMinnville, Oregon, US.
• 20107/086 – 747-123 registration N905NA, a NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, at theJohnson Space Center,Houston, Texas, US.
• 20269/150 – 747-136 registration G-AWNG nose atHiller Aviation Museum,San Carlos, California.
• 20239/160 – 747-244B registration ZS-SAN nicknamedLebombo,at theSouth African Airways Museum Society,Rand Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 20541/200 – 747-128 registration F-BPVJ atMusée de l'Air et de l'Espace,Paris, France.
• 20770/213 – 747-2B5B registration HL7463 atJeongseok Aviation Center,Jeju, South Korea.
• 20713/219 - 747-212B(SF) registration N482EV at theEvergreen Aviation & Space Museum,McMinnville, Oregon, US.
• 20825/223 - 747-200 registration SX-OAB at the site ofEllinikon International Airport,Athens,Greece. After over 20 years sitting at the closed airport, it was moved to a permanent location within the boundaries of the airport and put on display as part of the ongoing regeneration work.
• 21134/288 – 747SP-44 registration ZS-SPC at theSouth African Airways Museum Society,Rand Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 21549/336 – 747-206B registration PH-BUK at theAviodrome,Lelystad, Netherlands.
• 21588/342 – 747-230B(M) registration D-ABYM preserved atTechnik Museum Speyer,Germany.
• 21650/354 – 747-2R7F/SCD registration G-MKGA preserved atCotswold Airport,UK as an event space.
• 22145/410 – 747-238B registration VH-EBQ at theQantas Founders Outback Museum,Longreach, Queensland, Australia.
• 21942/471 – 747-212B registration N642NW nose at theMuseum of Aeronautical ScienceinNarita,Japan, nearNarita International Airport.
• 22455/515 – 747-256BM registration EC-DLDLope de Veganose at theNational Museum of Science and Technology,A Coruña, Spain.
• 23719/696 – 747-451 registrationN661USat theDelta Flight Museum,Atlanta, Georgia, US. This particular plane was the first 747-400 in service, as well as the prototype.
• 24354/731– 747-438 registration VH-OJA atShellharbour Airport,Albion Park Rail, New South Wales, Australia.
• 21441/306 -SOFIA- 747SP-21 registration N747NA atPima Air and Space MuseuminTucson, Arizona,US. FormerPan AmandUnited Airlines747SP bought by NASA and converted into a flying telescope, for astronomy purposes. NamedClipper Lindbergh.

Other uses

Boeing 747-212B serving as theJumbo StayatArlanda Airport,Sweden

Upon its retirement from service, the 747 which was number two in the production line was dismantled and shipped to Hopyeong, Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea where it was re-assembled, repainted in a livery similar to that of Air Force One and converted into a restaurant. Originally flown commercially by Pan Am asN747PA,Clipper Juan T. Trippe,andrepaired for service following a tailstrike,it stayed with the airline until its bankruptcy. The restaurant closed by 2009,and the aircraft was scrapped in 2010.

A former British Airways 747-200B, G-BDXJ,is parked at theDunsfold Aerodromein Surrey, England and has been used as a movie set for productions such as the 2006 James Bond film,Casino Royale.The airplane also appears frequently in the television seriesTop Gear,which is filmed at Dunsfold.

TheJumbo Stayhostel, using a converted 747-200 formerly operated bySingapore Airlinesand registered as 9V-SQE, opened at Arlanda Airport, Stockholm in January 2009.

A formerPakistan International Airlines747-300 was converted into a restaurant by Pakistan'sAirports Security Forcein 2017.It is located at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

The wings of a 747 have been repurposed as roofs ofa house in Malibu,California.

In 2023, a Boeing 747-412, retired from Lion Air, was turned into a steak restaurant inBekasi,Indonesia. The aircraft had been sitting since 2018 but the construction of the restaurant was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Specifications

Diagram of Boeing 747 variants.
At the top: 747-100 (dorsal, cross-section, and front views). Side views, in descending order: 747SP, 747-100, 747-400, 747-8I, and 747LCF.

Model	747SP	747-100	747-200B	747-300	747-400	747-8
Cockpit crew	Three (captain, first officer,flight engineer)				Two (captain, first officer)
Typical seats	276 (25F, 57J, 194Y)	366 (32F, 74J, 260Y)		400 (34F, 76J, 290Y)	416 (23F, 78J, 315Y)	467 (24F, 87J, 356Y)
Exit limit	400	440/550		550/660		495/605
Cargo	3,900 cu ft (110 m3)	6,190 cu ft (175 m3), 30×LD1			5,655 cu ft (160.1 m3)	6,345 cu ft (179.7 m3)
Length	184 ft 9 in (56.3 m)	231 ft 10 in (70.7 m)				250 ft 2 in (76.25 m)
Cabin width	239.5 in (6.08 m)
Wingspan	195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)				211 ft 5 in (64.4 m)	224 ft 7 in (68.5 m)
Wing area	5,500 sq ft (511 m2)				5,650 sq ft (525 m2)	5,960 sq ft (554 m2)
Wing sweep	37.5°
Aspect ratio	7				7.9	8.5
Tail height	65 ft 5 in (19.9 m)	63 ft 5 in (19.3 m)			63 ft 8 in (19.4 m)	63 ft 6 in (19.4 m)
MTOW	630,000–696,000 lb (285.8–315.7 t)	735,000–750,000 lb (333.4–340.2 t)	775,000–833,000 lb (351.5–377.8 t)		875,000–910,000 lb (396.9–412.8 t)	975,000–987,000 lb 442.3–447.7 t
OEW	325,660–336,870 lb (147.72–152.80 t)	358,000–381,480 lb (162.39–173.04 t)	376,170–388,010 lb (170.63–176.00 t)	384,240–402,700 lb (174.29–182.66 t)	394,088–412,300 lb (178.755–187.016 t)	485,300 lb (220.1 t)
Fuel capacity	48,780–50,360 US gal (184,700–190,600 L)	47,210–48,445 US gal (178,710–183,380 L)	52,035–52,410 US gal (196,970–198,390 L)		53,985–63,705 US gal (204,360–241,150 L)	63,034 US gal (238,610 L)
Turbofan(×4)	Pratt & Whitney JT9DorRolls-Royce RB211orGeneral Electric CF6				PW4000/CF6/RB211	GEnx-2B67
Thrust (×4)	46,300–54,750 lbf (206.0–243.5 kN)	43,500–51,600 lbf (193–230 kN)	46,300–54,750 lbf (206.0–243.5 kN)	46,300–56,900 lbf (206–253 kN)	56,750–63,300 lbf (252.4–281.6 kN)	66,500 lbf (296 kN)
MMo	Mach 0.92					Mach 0.9
Cruise speed		econ. 907 km/h (490 kn; 564 mph), max. 939 km/h (507 kn; 583 mph)			Mach 0.855 (504 kn; 933 km/h; 580 mph)
Range	5,830 nmi (10,800 km; 6,710 mi)	4,620 nmi (8,560 km; 5,320 mi)	6,560 nmi (12,150 km; 7,550 mi)	6,330 nmi (11,720 km; 7,280 mi)	7,285–7,670 nmi (13,492–14,205 km; 8,383–8,826 mi)	7,730 nmi (14,320 km; 8,900 mi)
Takeoff	9,250 ft (2,820 m)	10,650 ft (3,250 m)	10,900 ft (3,300 m)	10,900 ft (3,300 m)	10,700 ft (3,300 m)	10,200 ft (3,100 m)

Cultural impact

See also:Aircraft in fiction § Boeing 747

American Airlines 747 Wurlitzer electronic piano, 1971

Following its debut, the 747 rapidly achievediconicstatus. The aircraft entered the cultural lexicon as the originalJumbo Jet,a term coined by the aviation media to describe its size,and was also nicknamedQueen of the Skies.Test pilotDavid P. Daviesdescribed it as "a most impressive aeroplane with a number of exceptionally fine qualities",and praised its flight control system as "truly outstanding" because of its redundancy.

Appearing in over 300 film productions,the 747 is one of the most widely depicted civilian aircraft and is considered by many as one of the most iconic in film history.It has appeared in film productions such as the disaster filmsAirport 1975andAirport '77,as well asAir Force One,Die Hard 2,andExecutive Decision.

See also

Related development

• Boeing 747 LCF
• Boeing 747-8
• Boeing 747-400
• Boeing 747SP
• Boeing E-4
• Boeing VC-25
• Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Related lists

• List of aircraft
• List of jet airliners
• List of megaprojects

References

Bibliography

• Bowers, Peter M.Boeing Aircraft Since 1916.London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1989.ISBN0-85177-804-6.
• Davies, R.E.G.Delta: An Airline and Its Aircraft: The Illustrated History of a Major U.S. Airline and the People Who Made It.McLean, VA: Paladwr Press, 1990.ISBN0-9626483-0-2.
• Donald, David and Lake, Jon.Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft.London: Aerospace Publishing, 1996.ISBN1-874023-95-6.
• Haenggi, Michael.Boeing Widebodies.St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Co., 2003.ISBN0-7603-0842-X.
• Irving, Clive.Wide Body: The Making of the Boeing 747.Philadelphia: Coronet, 1994.ISBN0-340-59983-9.
• Itabashi, M., K. Kawata and S. Kusaka."Pre-fatigued 2219-T87 and 6061-T6 aluminium alloys."Structural Failure: Technical, Legal and Insurance Aspects.Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon.: Taylor & Francis, 1995.ISBN978-0-419-20710-8.
• Jenkins, Dennis R.Boeing 747-100/200/300/SP(AirlinerTech Series, Vol. 6). North Branch, MN: Specialty Press, 2000.ISBN1-58007-026-4.
• Kane, Robert M.Air Transportation: 1903–2003.Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Co., 2004.ISBN0-7575-3180-6.
• Lawrence, Philip K. and David Weldon Thornton.Deep Stall: The Turbulent Story of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Co., 2005,ISBN0-7546-4626-2.
• Norris, Guy and Mark Wagner.Boeing 747: Design and Development Since 1969.St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Co., 1997.ISBN0-7603-0280-4.
• Norton, Bill.Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy.North Branch, MN: Specialty Press, 2003.ISBN1-58007-061-2.
• Orlebar, Christopher.The Concorde Story.Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 5th ed., 2002.ISBN1-85532-667-1.
• Seo, Hiroshi.Boeing 747.Worthing, West Sussex: Littlehampton Book Services Ltd., 1984.ISBN0-7106-0304-5.
• Sutter, Joe.747: Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation.Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2006.ISBN978-0-06-088241-9.
• Taylor, John W. R. (editor).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988–89.Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988.ISBN0-7106-0867-5.
• Thisdell, Dan and Seymour, Chris. "World Airliner Census".Flight International,July 30 – August 5, 2019, Vol. 196, No. 5697. pp. 24–47.ISSN0015-3710.

Further reading

• Ingells, Douglas J.747: Story of the Boeing Super Jet.Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1970.ISBN0-8168-8704-7.
• The Great Gamble: The Boeing 747. The Boeing – Pan Am Project to Develop, Produce, and Introduce the 747.Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1973.ISBN0-8173-8700-5.
• Lucas, Jim.Boeing 747 – The First 20 Years.Browcom Pub. Ltd, 1988.ISBN0-946141-37-1.
• Wright, Alan J.Boeing 747.Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 1989.ISBN0-7110-1814-6.
• Minton, David H.The Boeing 747(Aero Series 40). Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1991.ISBN0-8306-3574-2.
• Shaw, Robbie.Boeing 747(Osprey Civil Aircraft series). London: Osprey, 1994.ISBN1-85532-420-2.
• Baum, Brian.Boeing 747-SP(Great Airliners, Vol. 3). Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1997.ISBN0-9626730-7-2.
• Falconer, Jonathan.Boeing 747 in Color.Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 1997.ISBN1-882663-14-4.
• Gilchrist, Peter.Boeing 747-400(Airliner Color History). Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1998.ISBN0-7603-0616-8.
• Henderson, Scott.Boeing 747-100/200 In Camera.Minneapolis, MN: Scoval Publishing, 1999.ISBN1-902236-01-7.
• Pealing, Norman, and Savage, Mike.Jumbo Jetliners: Boeing's 747 and the Widebodies(Osprey Color Classics). Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1999.ISBN1-85532-874-7.
• Shaw, Robbie.Boeing 747-400: The Mega-Top(Osprey Civil Aircraft series)/ London: Osprey, 1999.ISBN1-85532-893-3.
• Wilson, Stewart.Boeing 747(Aviation Notebook Series). Queanbeyan, NSW: Wilson Media Pty. Ltd, 1999.ISBN1-876722-01-0.
• Wilson, Stewart.Airliners of the World.Fyshwick, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 1999.ISBN1-875671-44-7.
• Birtles, Philip.Boeing 747-400.Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan, 2000.ISBN0-7110-2728-5.
• Bowman, Martin.Boeing 747(Crowood Aviation Series). Marlborough, Wilts.: Crowood, 2000.ISBN1-86126-242-6
• Dorr, Robert F.Boeing 747-400(AirlinerTech Series, Vol. 10). North Branch, MN: Specialty Press, 2000.ISBN1-58007-055-8.
• Gesar, Aram.Boeing 747: The Jumbo.New York: Pyramid Media Group, 2000.ISBN0-944188-02-8.
• Gilchrist, Peter.Boeing 747 Classic(Airliner Color History). Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 2000.ISBN0-7603-1007-6.
• Graham, Ian.In Control: How to Fly a 747.Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2000.ISBN0-7636-1278-2.
• Nicholls, Mark.TheAirliner WorldBook of the Boeing 747.New York: Osprey Publishing, 2002.ISBN0-946219-61-3.
• March, Peter.The Boeing 747 Story.Stroud, Glos.: The History Press, 2009.ISBN0-7509-4485-4.
• Eames, Jim (2022).The Mighty 747: Australia's Queen of the Skies.Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.ISBN9781760877118.
• Spaeth, Andreas; Thomas, Geoffrey (2022).Boeing 747: Memories of the Jumbo Jet / Boeing 747: Erinnerungen an den Jumbojet(in English and German). Berlin: Delius Fine Books.ISBN9783949827006.

External links

• "747-8".Boeing.
• "747-100 cutaway".FlightGlobal.
• Debut of Boeing 747.British Movietone News.October 1, 1968.
• "Photos: Boeing 747-100 Assembly Line In 1969".Aviation Week & Space Technology.April 28, 1969.
• "Aircraft Owner's & Operator's Guide: 747-200/-300"(PDF).Aircraft commerce.June 2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 9, 2011.
• "Boeing 747 Aircraft Profile".FlightGlobal.June 3, 2007.
• Negroni, Christine (July 2014)."747: The World's Airliner".Air & Space Magazine.
• "This Luxury Boeing 747-8 for the Super-Rich is a Palace in the Sky".popular mechanics.February 24, 2015.
• "How Boeing and Pan Am created an airliner legend".flightglobal.April 15, 2016.
• "Boeing 747: Evolution of a Jumbo, As Featured On Aviation Week's Covers".Aviation Week.August 2016.
• "Boeing's Jumbo jet celebrates golden jubilee".FlightGlobal.February 8, 2019.
• Guy Norris (February 8, 2019)."Boeing's Queen of the Skies Marks 50th Anniversary Of First Flight".Aviation Week & Space Technology.
• Guy Norris."Evolution of a Widebody: 50 Years of the Boeing 747".Aviation Week & Space Technology.
• "The 747 Takes Off: The Dawn of the Jumbo Jet Age".Digital Exhibit.Northwestern University Transportation Library. January 2020.
• Jens Flottau (January 26, 2023)."How Boeing's 747 Revolutionized Air Travel".Aviation Week & Space Technology.